Moyes frustrated by 'lack of consistency'
- Published
Everton are clearly frustrated with a lack of consistency with decisions across the Premier League, and David Moyes made it very clear in his news conference he was furious, even going as far as saying he was "embarrassed" for those on VAR.
The reason for that anger is because he feels this is a wider problem for his side than just Michael Keane's sending off.
The rules class hair pulling as "violent conduct" and therefore a red card is given, but Moyes wanted common sense to come into play.
Part of the appeal was on the severity of the punishment. The Toffees felt the three game ban should have been reduced because it didn't meet the threshold in the rules, and while many would likely agree with this, a three person panel have upheld the full sanction.
Even more frustrating was the challenge from Wolves' Hwang Hee-Chan on Harrison Armstrong in the same game that the same group of officials didn't review, despite TV pictures showing the forward putting his studs into the back of the 18-year-old's calf.
Moyes was equally outspoken on that incident and said: "What Michael Keane did was a three-game ban and a sending off, but [the challenge on Armstrong] was a nothing in the game, and not recognised either by the VAR or the referee. It sounds like they've got all their things in the wrong places at the moment."
The Toffees boss also admitted while Jack Grealish was "wrong" to sarcastically applaud the referee leading to his second yellow and an early exit, he did point out in other games players have done the same action and not faced a booking, which leaves him questioning why decisions are going against Everton repeatedly.
This season the Toffees have seen three red cards - the hair pull, Grealish's applause and Idrissa Gana Gueye for slapping Keane in the match with Manchester United. All of those could be debated, and the Blues have also had the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel admit they should have been awarded a penalty in the game against Arsenal in December.
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